In the year to October 2005, exports amounted to 11.8bn Danish kroner (£1.1bn) or 2.4% of Danish exports of goods. That is equivalent to 0.5% of Danish GDP. In the worst case, Danish GDP might drop by that amount if Danish exports to these countries disappeared completely for a year.

But Arab countries that have jumped on the boycott bandwagon may well suffer consequences as well. Danish tourists can be expected to give the Middle East a wide berth for a while. Danish tour operators have already cancelled trips to Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia following warnings by Denmark's foreign ministry for its citizens to avoid Muslim countries. Other Europeans might feel the same way too.

Moreover, the EU has warned that it will take Saudi Arabia to the World Trade Organisation if the Riyadh government supports a boycott of Danish goods. Cool heads are needed to avert unanticipated economic consequences.